23.4

• Nucleic Acids
  • An organic compound whose molecules carry genetic information and is made up of one or two chains of monomer units called nucleotides
• DNA
  • deoxyribonucleic acid
  • largest molecules in cells
  • carries all genetic information
  • double helix
  • nitrogenous bases
• Nitrogenous Base Pairs
  • A-T
  • G-C
• DNA Replication
  • Process by which an identical copy of the original DNA molecule is formed. The process begins when DNA un-zippers with the help of the helicase enzyme. The two strands are now separated and nucleotides make two new DNA molecules.
• RNA
  • ribonucleic acid
  • synthesis of proteins
  • differs from DNA in the following ways:
    • ribose instead of deoxyribose
    • uracil instead of thymine (A-U is found in RNA whereas A-T is found in DNA)
    • single stranded
    • much smaller
• RNA Synthesis
  • ribosomes are organelles that are composed of RNA and proteins
  • ribosomes are site of protein production